South African Countries

There is growing consensus that modern biotechnology holds the key to sustainable development. This is, especially, in the light of the fact that the world's population is fast growing without corresponding land expansion. Modern biotechnology is considered cost effective and therefore very applicable to poor resource farming. Scientific evidence exist that associate genetically modified crops with high yields. This explains why Sub-Saharan Africa, long ravaged by drought and famine is being encouraged to embrace modern biotechnology.

Modern biotechnology is already dominant in the US, Canada, Spain, Mexico, China, Argentina, and Brazil. These countries not only produce enough for their domestic consumption but also for export. Perhaps, this is the most significant aspect of GM cultivation. For without ready market surplus yields would go to waste. I raise this issue because the current trade imbalance threatens to imperil North-South technology transfer. This is especially critical in Africa, which for many years has been struggling to penetrate oversees markets with little success.

Let me illustrate this point. Currently, the US and Europe are involved in a bitter trade war with four West African countries - Burkina Faso, Benin, Chad and Mali, over subsidies they offer their cotton farmers. The four West African countries, popularly known as C4 attribute low cotton prices, which are seriously strangling their farmers, on these subsidies. Subsidies are meant to ensure that farmers always get value for their farm investments. They don't have to worry about price fluctuations for they are guaranteed of compensation by their governments.